Ruination 25

The lights dim as a slow, menacing riff starts to snarl through the arena.  Each sound feeling like the claws of some massive beast, clinking and scratching its way through the Epicenter.

Eryk Masters:  From what this man has said since last seen here, despite questions about his health he sounds ready to end this here.  Whatever ‘end this’ means in these two men’s context.

A low voice seems to cut through the snarl, setting a tone…

There is no justice here, just revenge

And no love left in you, only pain

The soft , contemplative voice turns into a snarling, vicious scream as Azraith pushes his way to the top of the ramp, the crowd roaring along with the voice as the spotlights strobe a violent red.

BLEEDING IN YOUR ECHO CHAMBER

A CRIMSON HOUSE OF DIRTY MIRRORS

He’s wearing a simple pair of black denim jeans and heavy-duty looking combat boots, the metal toes stamped on the exterior of the boot in muted, blued steel.

Other Guy:  Azraith has been through every war imaginable, and I’ve been a guest to many of them, but all of this feels so different.  We’ve seen it in the past, usually Az comes to these big matches with much more pomp and circumstance, he loves making a stage of his battles…this seems…wrong.  It’s hard to place my finger on

The pace of the music picks up to a galloping train, that clawing guitar riff turning into a marauding, rampaging monster.

WEAPONING SUFFERING, THE LICKS YOU NEVER HAD

TRAUMA ECHOES, STOLEN FROM THE SHOULDERS OF YOUR PAST

As the music reaches a fever pitch, Az’s pace remains a slow, methodical step down to the ring.  He looks at the monstrosity that has been built in (partially) his name.  His fingers run along the cages walls, a violent shake or two.  Showing no emotion other than the barely contained rage that seems to be bubbling at every second passing, Az steps through the open door and stalks to his corner.  The lights raise up and once they do, everyone can see the vicious, still-darkening bruising and scarring the dog collar assault left Azraith from a few weeks ago.

Eryk Masters: We could assume his mindset and his mental and physical health all night, but I don’t think I’ve seen or heard Azraith quite so determined to move forward…move on than what I’ve heard from him this week.

The lights cut out again. The crowd begins to hurl boos in anticipation of what’s coming. And suddenly…

REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH

“Personal Jesus” by Depeche Mode begins to pulse through the Epicenter as the lights begin to strobe.

Your own, personal Jesus

Someone to hear your prayers

Someone who’s there

Jacob Mephisto steps out onto the entrance stage. He’s dressed in a pair of black jeans, complete with combat boots and no shirt, the years of scars adorning his chest and back. The Iron Fist Championship is fastened firmly around his waist.

Eryk Masters: You wanna talk about focus and importance, OG? Here’s another man who puts a lot of effort into big entrances. Tonight? He’s coming for a fight and he knows it.

Other Guy: This won’t be a fight, E. This is the final battle in an absolute war. The Iron Fist Championship is on the line. This is old school. This is almost primal.

Mephisto moves down the ramp, stopping to stare up at the devil’s playground standing in front of him, his eyes locking on the steel chain laying across the ring.

Mephisto, sheds his title and enters the ring, closing the cage door behind him. On the outside, Samantha Coil stands ready.

Samantha Coil: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall and is the special No Escape Classic Iron Fist Rules Match for the SHOOT Project Iron Fist Championship!

The crowd lets out a large cheer.

Samantha Coil: Introducing first, the challenger! He is The Sandman, AZZRAIIITH DEEEEEEMIIIIITRIIIIII!!!

The SHOOT Faithful heap their praise down on the challenger.

Samantha Coil: His opponent is the current reigning Iron Fist Champion… JAAACOOOOB MEEEEEEPHIISTOOOOO!!!

Neither man hesitates to buckle the collar around their neck. The referee calls for the bell.

Ding Ding!

The bell sounds and neither man moves a muscle. They stand across the ring from one another, hatred practically emanating from their bodies. Slowly, methodically, deliberately, they move toward one another until they’re face to face. Pale, grey eyes full of vitriol meet violent, blue eyes full of madness and bad intentions.

And then in starts.

Eryk Masters: Here we go! Azraith and Mephisto are tearing into one another right off the bat!

There’s no hesitation. Azraith and Mephisto both reach forward and snatch a handful of hair and start firing right hands at one another. The crowd lets out a roar as the final chapter has begun!

Mephisto reaches down, scooping a handful of chain and swings, but Azraith knocks his other hand away and ducks the blow, immediately grabbing a length of chain of his own! Mephisto spins around from the momentum of his swing and Az wraps the chain around his neck and starts to pull!

Eryk Masters: Oh my! This is going south for Mephisto fast!

Other Guy: Azraith may just choke him out right here! Might be the fastest Iron Fist match in history!

Mephisto comes alive and claws at the chain wrapped around his throat like a wild man. Azraith wraps the chain tighter in his fists, but Mephisto rolls forward, flipping The Sandman over him in a modified snap mare, breaking the choke.

Mephisto coughs, trying to pull the leather collar away from his neck enough to breath as he staggers away, but he runs out of room, when Azraith pops to his feet and snatches him back. Mephisto lands square on his behind at the feet of a seething Azraith DeMitri, who looks down at him with disdain.

Eryk Masters: This is not going well for the Iron Fist Champion!

Other Guy: Look, I’m not saying he brought this on himself, but, I mean, he really did.

Azraith reaches down and snatches Mephisto by the hair, pulling him to his feet, but Mephisto is too fast! The champion rakes Az’s eyes and follows up with a nasty looking headbutt. Azraith staggers back, shaking his head. Mephisto charges in, but Azraith brings a length of chain up and side steps, catching Mephisto with a clothesline with it!

Mephisto rolls around on the mat, clutching at his throat. Azraith doesn’t hesitate. He stalks Mephisto, pulling him up by the chain. Mephisto swings wild, but Az dodges and snatches the Iron Fist Champion by the hair. He rushes forward, dragging Mephisto with him and slings Mephisto forward, but the Patriarch puts on the breaks and uses Az’s momentum and the chain connecting them to launch Azraith forward into the cage wall!

Eryk Masters: Oh! Mephisto just bought himself some time!

Other Guy: He did more than that! He just smashed Azraith’s face into that steel cage! And DiMitri is cut!

Az bounces off the cage, a fresh gash opening on his forehead. Mephisto charges forward and mows The Avatar down with a running lariat. The Patriarch begins stalking his challenger, scooping a length of chain into his hands.

Eryk Masters: This isn’t gonna be good for Azraith!

Other Guy: Nothing about this match is good for either of these men, E.

Mephisto rears back and WHIPS the chain down across Az’s ribs! The crowd lets out a collective groan as Az tries to cover up. Mephisto whips the chain down again and again as Azraith tries to protect himself and rolls around in pain. Mephisto stops for a moment, screaming down at his challenger.

Mephisto: IS THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

He wraps his fist with the chain and drops down, driving the chained fist right into Azraith’s throat.

Mephisto drags The Sandman back to his feet by the hair. He shoves Az away before jerking him back by the chain and leveling Az with a lariat.

Eryk Masters: Pride Before the Fall!

Mephisto turns to the referee and orders him to count. The champion screams at Az.

Mephisto: JUST STAY DOWN AND THIS CAN ALL BE OVER, SANDMAN!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

Azraith scrambles through the pain and is almost immediately back to his feet. He whirls around and Mephisto is right in his face, driving a vicious knee into The Sandman’s gut.

Azraith doubles over, but looks up at Mephisto with a sick smile on his face. He growls through his bruised throat.

Azraith: Now we’re FUCKIN’ talkin’.

Az moves forward, eating a HEAVY right hand on his way in, but once he get inside Mephisto’s defenses, Azraith fires a quick pair of elbows to Mephisto’s jaw. He follows up with a nasty knee to Mephisto’s stomach.

Azraith backs up the length of the chain and let’s out a ROAR, rushing forward!

Eryk Masters: ROLLLLING ELBOW! Mephisto just went down like a ton of bricks!

The referee readies himself to count, but Az steps between him and Mephisto, shaking his head. Azraith drops down and hooks Mephisto’s arms in a double chicken wing before flipping up and over into a cattle mutilation! Mephisto comes alive, screaming in pain!

Other Guy: This is just meant to torture, E! No submissions in this match!

Azraith hangs on a bit longer before rolling away and popping to his feet. Az wipes blood from his face, the sadistic smile still etched on his face.

Mephisto begins to crawl towards the ropes, but Az simply steps on the chain connecting the two men. Az jerks Mephisto back to his feet, snatching him by the hair and waistband before hurling him forward into the cage!

Mephisto bounces off the cage and Az sends him right back into it.

Eryk Masters: My god! Azraith is playing pinball with Mephisto and the cage! This is getting bloody fast!

Other Guy: Did you expect anything else?

Az sends Mephisto into the cage over and over. Finally, Mephisto staggers away from the cage, legs wobbly, and Azraith scoops him up into a powerslam position.

The Sandman rushes forward, goring Mephisto into the top turnbuckle! Az holds on and turns back to the center of the ring. He pauses for a moment and drives Mephisto down with a Michinoku Driver.

Eryk Masters: That’s the Smirking Revenge!

Az takes a few steps back, not quite the length of the chain, and motions for the referee to start a count.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

Mephisto crawls to the ropes, beginning to pull himself to his knees.

FIVE!

SIX!

Mephisto drags himself upright, stopping the count and staggers away. Azraith charges in, but Mephisto catches him, lifting The Avatar and DRIVING him to the mat with a spinebuster! Mephisto rolls away and, when he comes to his feet, there’s a new look in his eyes. He stalks forward, measuring Azraith.

Az drags himself back to his feet, Mephisto watching and waiting. As Azraith turns around, Mephisto grabs hold of the chain and rushes away from Azraith, the force of the motion whipping Az back by his heavily bruised neck!

Eryk Masters: Oh! Oh man. That was brutal.

Mephisto moves forward and stomps down on the back of Azraith’s neck. He grabs Az by the waistband of his jeans and rushes him head-first into the cage! He drags Az between the ropes and props him against the cage.

Other Guy: What is he thinking?

Mephisto rushes forward, but Azraith side steps! Mephisto spears the cage door and goes right through it, tumbling down the steel steps and to the floor on the outside!

Azraith uses the cage to drag himself back up to his feet, stalking out the destroyed cell door. Mephisto finds the outside of the cage and pulls himself up. As he turns around, he comes face to face with a bloody and angry Azraith.

Azraith smashes his own head into the bridge of Mephisto’s nose and blood immediately flows from Mephisto’s nostrils.

Azraith: We’re going down memory lane, motherfucker.

Az looks up for a long moment, the crowd cheers growing exponentially.

Eryk Masters: What’s he doing?

Other Guy: Oh man, he’s gonna take Mephisto up to the top of that cell!

Sure enough Azraith begins to climb. Mephisto clutches at the chain, but as The Sandman climbs, the chain grows tight and Mephisto is forced to follow. Mephisto climbs faster sending shots to Azraith’s ribs on the way up. Az just eats the blows, continuing on his mission.

Azraith arrives at the top just seconds before Mephisto. Both men stand atop the cell, joined at the neck by a fifteen foot chain. They both pause for a moment, looking out over the sea of humanity that is the SHOOT Faithful losing their minds.

And then the war resumes. Both men begin to tear into one another. Mephisto grabs a handful of chain and swings, but Azraith ducks, grabbing his own handful and whipping Mephisto right across the gut with the chain. He hooks Mephisto’s head and drops him atop the steel mesh of the cell’s roof with a DDT!

Eryk Masters: This might not be flashy, but this is an absolute war, folks.

Other Guy: These two are trying to end one another tonight! 

Azraith picks Mephisto up and slowly begins to wrap the chain around his neck. Mephisto scratches and claws, but the Sandman is methodical. He is not to be denied. Azraith DRAGS Mephisto to the edge of the cell and the crowd lets out a cheer.

Eryk Masters: No! This is too far!

Azraith SHOVES Mephisto forward and leans back, holding the chain tight. Mephisto falls forward, losing his footing on the cage!

Other Guy: Holy Christ! AZRAITH DEMITRI IS HANGING JACOB MEPHISTO FROM THE TOP OF THE CELL!

Az is practically frothing at the mouth as he wrenches back on the chain. Mephisto starts to panic, kicking his legs wildly and clawing at the collar around his neck, pale eyes wide.

A beat later and something changes in Azraith’s expression. It… softens. Az moves forward quick as lightning and drags Mephisto back up onto the cell roof. Azraith shakes his head, grabbing at his own blue hair.

Eryk Masters: OH! That was low!

Mephisto has grabbed the chain and YANKED up, the chain coming up between Az’s legs and crumpling him down to the cage roof. Mephisto smirks through a crimson mask.

Mephisto: There’s your humanity, Azraith DiMitri. It’s going to be your end.

Mephisto delivers a nasty boot square to Az’s face. Azraith reels back on his knees but doesn’t go down. Mephisto backs up to the end of the chain. He rushes forward!

Other Guy: GODLESS! That shining axe kick connected!

Mephisto grabs Azraith by his hair and starts to drag him forward toward the edge of the cell. He slowly unbuckles and removes the collar from his own throat, an angry purple bruise forming to match Azraith’s.

Eryk Masters: Wait a minute? Can he do that?

Other Guy: What are they gonna do? Disqualify him? No rules in an Iron Fist match, E!

Mephisto buckles the collar to the top of the cell. He brings Az back to his feet, the Avatar of SHOOT on wobbly legs.

Mephisto: I told you how this would end.

Mephisto shoves Azraith, BUT Azraith springs to life, wrapping the chain around Mephisto’s neck as he falls back, bringing Mephisto with him!

The crowd gasps as the chain SNAPS and both men continue to fall, but BOTH men are able to just grab hold of the edge of the cell. Mephisto reaches over, grabs Az by the hair and RAMS his head into the cage. Mephisto begins to move down the cage.

Azraith shakes the cobwebs out and begins to move down the cage as well. Mephisto hits the ground first staggering away. Azraith is still on his way down, but LAUNCHES himself from the cage and just collides with Mephisto, sending both men down in a heap!

The crowd is on its feet!

HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!

Azraith brings Mephisto to his feet again and drags the Iron Fist Champion back through the broken cage door and into the ring. Az drags Mephisto to his feet, but Mephisto pops up and SPEWS black mist into Azraith’s eyes!

Other Guy: Black Mist!

Mephisto moves in quickly and hoists Az up onto his shoulders into a fireman’s carry. He walks to the center of the ring and shrugs him up, bringing him down into a nasty lungblower!

Mephisto pops back up and stalks forward. He drags Az back to his feet. He measures Azraith, grabbing an arm and twisting. He pushes Az back and jerks him back in for another short-arm clothesline, but Az ducks under and hooks Mephisto!

Eryk Masters: Kata-Hajime! Azraith has that locked in!

Az lets out a roar and LIFTS Mephisto up and over with a kata-hajime suplex! He keeps it locked in and rolls through, lifting and dropping him on his head again! He rolls through again and Az lifts Mephisto up for a third, dropping him on his head again. Finally, Az drops back, cinching the hold on tighter complete with a grapevine!

Other Guy: That’s the Seraphim Dance! Azraith is breaking out the classics here! And Mephisto is fading!

Mephisto’s arm goes limp and Azraith whips him away, rolling over and pulling himself to his feet. He motions for the referee to count Mephisto.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

FIVE!

Mephisto starts to stir, rolling to his stomach.

SIX!

SEVEN!

He pushes himself to his knees.

EIGHT!

Mephisto wills himself to his feet, turning on rubber legs to face Azraith.

Azraith moves in and both men start trading heavy bombs again. Azraith doesn’t even try to block Mephisto’s shots, simply absorbing them as he moves in to send elbows of his own.

Azraith gets in close and he SNATCHES Mephisto by the throat. He LIFTS Mephisto up!

Eryk Masters: Die Hand Des-NO! Mephisto countered!

Mephisto hooks Azraith’s head and rocks back, driving Az’s head into the canvas with a DDT! Mephisto stumbles back to his feet. He looks at Azraith and then to the top turnbuckle.

Other Guy: What’s Mephisto thinking here?

Mephisto drags Azraith to the corner. Mephisto positions himself with his back to the turnbuckles. He climbs to the top, dragging Az up with him. Mephisto tucks Azraith’s head in a piledriver position.

But, Azraith puts on the brakes when Mephisto tries to lift! The Sandman slips his head out and climbs up so both men are standing on the top turnbuckle. Azraith hooks Mephisto’s head and arm, grabbing the roof of the cage to steady himself.

Eryk Masters: HOLY SHIT!

Azraith LEAPS backward with Mephisto, delivering the sloppiest Spanish Fly you’ve ever witnessed from the top rope, sending both men crashing and burning to the canvas!

Other Guy: That’s called The Final!! I haven’t seen him do that in years!

Both men lay motionless in the ring. The referee checks in each before beginning his count!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

FIVE!

Neither man moves, but they both begin to stir.

SIX!

SEVEN!

Both Azraith and Mephisto start to push themselves up, but both men struggle.

EIGHT!

NINE!

They both push up, but both men collapse!

TEN!

Ding Ding Ding!

The referee consults with Samantha Coil for a moment before she lifts the microphone to her lips.

Samantha Coil: Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has counted out both men. Therefore, this contest is ruled a DRAW!

The crowd unleashes a hail of boos.

Samantha Coil: However, still the Iron Fist Champion, Jacob Mephisto!

The booing intensifies as the referee hands Mephisto the Iron Fist Championship. Mephisto barely appears to be present mentally as he holds the title close to his chest. A slow, steady smirk forms on his face as he fights his own body to get to his feet.

Mephisto begins to laugh, tossing his head back all while clutching the Iron Fist Championship to his chest.

And then the crowd roars with cheers.

Azraith DeMitri sits up like a babysitter’s worst nightmare on Halloween night.

Mephisto’s smirk falters and he slowly turns to see an absolute monster standing in front of him. Azraith seethes. Mephisto backpedals, holding up a hand.

Mephisto: Wait… this is over now…

Azraith moves quick as a flash snatching Mephisto by the throat.

Azraith: Not. Yet.

Azraith ROCKETS Mephisto into the air and drives him down across his knee!

Eryk Masters: Die Hand Des Gottes! Azraith isn’t done yet!

Azraith DeMitri looks around slowly at the rabid fans. He slowly draws his thumb across his throat and then SNATCHES Mephisto up by the hair. He positions Mephisto in a piledriver position and hooks the arms. Azraith unleashes a roar loud enough to be worthy of his moniker of SHOOT Project’s kaiju.

He hoists Mephisto up and JUMPS, spiking Mephisto down with a double underhook piledriver. Mephisto is OUT.

Other Guy: The Extinction ‘22! How fitting! Azraith never said anything about wanting to win this match, E! He said he was gonna end this tonight!

Azraith picks up the Iron Fist Championship, looking at the title he’s soaked gallons of blood on over the years. He stands over Mephisto and places a boot on his chest, looking out over the crowd.

AZRAITH! AZRAITH! AZRAITH!

Azraith: Now it’s over.

Azraith gently places the Iron Fist Championship across Mephisto’s waist. He takes a deep breath and releases it, seemingly releasing everything that this war has built inside him.

And the. Azraith DeMitri’s knees buckle and he collapses next to Jacob Mephisto.

Medical technicians rush the ring, checking on both bloody and broken men.

Eryk Masters: Folks, we’ve got to get these Soldiers checked on and we’ve got to get this all cleaned up. But, stay tuned! There’s still more to come tonight, including the World Heavyweight Championship match and, of course, the Redemption Rumble! Don’t go anywhere!